Even a daily wager earns more, says HMOA secy

Shimla, May 4

Even as Himachal Medical Officers Association (HMOA) has welcomed the state government’s decision to rope in MBBS and nursing students, it has expressed disappointment with the honorarium/incentive announced for their services.

Saying that Rs 3,000 per month for MBBS students and Rs 1,500 for nursing students was neither adequate nor respectable, HMOA secretary Dr Pushpender Verma said even a daily wager earns much more.

“The incentive of Rs 3,000 is fine for medical officers and resident doctors as it’s over and above their salary. But the students are not drawing any salary. They are being called to contribute in emergency situation and look at what we are offering them,” he said.

Verma said the government would have done well to check how much the Delhi government is paying to the medical personnel for their services. “The Delhi government has authorized Covid facilities to hire additional man power to handle corona patients. They are offering Rs 4,000 per day/shift to interns and medical students and Rs 2,000 per day/shift to nursing students,” said Verma. “Look at the difference! They are skilled persons, our future medical professionals,” said Verma.

Meanwhile, the IGMC has already started using the services of MBBS students. However, instead of throwing them straight into the deep end, the IGMC is making them work in non-Covid wards.

“We want them to get some experience of handling the patients. We will shift them to the Covid wards when there’s absolute crunch,” said IGMC principal Surinder Sodhi. “Besides, we will also get interns in a few days. We will put them in both Covid and non-Covid wards as per the requirement,” said Sodhi. — TNS